all air, all air

NO AIR
Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown
Jordin Sparks

Rating: B+

It's a little bit hard to give a straight recommendation for Jordin Sparks' follow-up single, No Air. This collaboration with teen r&b sensation, Chris Brown seems to be mildly pleasant at best and yet lacking the depth and quality that we would expect from this team up.

Sadly though, there's not much to go on about. Beneath the sweet pop tune, No Air is just a vehicle to showcase the mad vocal skills of Sparks and Brown. It's hard not to be impressed by their technical prowess even when they're pulling an Aguilera (more ad libs shouted than actual singing) from the second chorus onwards. It's impossible to miss those parts. Although it is a bit weird for Sparks to sing as if she's out of breath just to give the listeners the feel of the record. Plus the words itself doesn't do anything but add more cheese.

Ironically, what makes the song likeable is that it is rather sweet as compared to recent releases. It appeals to a very large demographic that it would be impossible for this not to be a surefire hit.

Sparks and Brown's talent mesh so well that if you look past the manufactured and sugar-coated production, you'd say that No Air is already passable. But definitely this duet won't make go down in history as of one of the greatest.

*******

But somehow I'm still alive inside. You took my breath but I survived. I don't know how but I don't even care.